The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-09

MOTTISOu VII VI tn0 fOrty-D1nLn
Congress would probably, have in.
creased the customs revenue. From
a bitter experience our people have
learned that cheap goods may some.
times mean cheap labor. and that
things are dearest when we have no
money to buy them, that reduced
duties have sometimes caused reduced
wages. profits and comforts.
To promise to the laborer cheap
products at the cost to him of the
market for his own labor is to mock
him. The broader problem with our
republic, which rests on universal
citizenship and equal suffrage, is
what system will best maintain our
industries, our labor advantages,
what will better the condition of the
citizens from whom the republic
draws its force. There is better bread
than can he made of wheat, A rad
ical reduction of the earnings of our
wage workers, as the price of re-
duced cost of clothes, food and shell
ter, does not advance the comfort
the welfare, the intelligence of the
masses of our people nor our indus
trial independence. The triumph of
laissez fdire did not outlive Villers,
Poullet, Thompson. Peel and Cobdyl
The modern state protects the
weaker members of society, especial
ly women, children, the aged and
destitute. The modern state strives
to bring the producer and consumer
closer together. to escape the perma-
nent tariff of middlemen and long
distant freight, from continent to
continent, where possible Many
exigencies have forced the hands of
statesmen everywhere to turn their
backs on laissez faire, and to accept
the Christian doctaine that every cit.
izen is. in a larger sense, his neigh
boris keeper,
All over the world there is a reac-
ton toward the system Cf protection
which prevailed prior to 1860, and it
began to take definite shape about
1876. Russia successfully increased
her tariff in 1877, in 1882 and in 1884.
Austria increased her tariff in 1877
and 1870. The present protective
policy commenced in Germany in
1879. and Bismarck has twice in.
creased it. There was an increase OF
duties, in France in 1882, in Italy in
1882, in Switzerland and Greece in
1884. Mr.. Bagehot, the wise Eng.
lish economist, confessed that free
trade could only prevail in a .coun-
try in which commerce has largely
developed and taken the form it has
in England" Yet, in England the
agitation against free trade has jus,
resulted in majority and minority
reports of the Parliamentary Com
mission on the depression of trade
and industry. They find that in free
trade England, in ten years past
there has been decline of thirty pei
cent. in the value of land, and wheat
has fallen thirty-f"ur per cent. in the
last fifty years. And yet, with cheap
er food, the story of stagnation anC
distress in England is so appalling
that after quarter of a century fret
trade has been challenged by large
majority in Great Britain.
Because of the failure of appropri
ton bills, to-day United States courts
are compelled to adjourn; unfinished
cruisers lie at the dock yards, and TIT
old Notifications we have are decay
ing or dismantled. So inefficient il
a Democratic House, that in the For
ty.eighth Congress nine of the four
teen great appropriation bills becam;
laws on the last day of its existence
| Whi'O III thO EOItS'ulutu OOuk Go
only three of the great appropriation
bills became laws on the last day ant
three failed to pass.
The building of navy is still il
great uncertainty. and the stronl
public sentiment in favor of a promp
and liberal outlay for the defence o
our coasts and ports has again beef
disappointed. The Republican op
position has been tolerant and pa
triotic. The Presidential Succession
law, the Electoral Count law and tn,
repeal of the Tenure of Office Law
strikingly show this. In the fisher
les dispute the Republicans entrust
cd the President with large power
of retaliation. Had the administra
ton and it's friends made a SINGER
effort to reduce the surplus revenu
instead of an adroit effort to destro,
the tariff, Republicans would will
ingly have assented. but the part,
in power was less concerned abou
the surplus, and more anxious +
take first firm step toward fire.
trade. After satisfying the demand